OPEN HOUSE: What should be cabinet minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu’s priority areas for Ludhiana?

Ludhiana is a home to world famous brands especially in textiles and bicycles. In recent years, industry in the city has been shifting to other states. The problems behind the development can be ascertained to those associated with labour, electricity, political interventions and lack of air connectivity. Ludhiana is the only industrial city in the country without a regular international airport. Similarly, Ludhiana has slowest traffic and highest vehicle density. Mass transport system is another necessity to curb traffic and pollution menace. Overall, Cabinet minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu should concentrate on strategic planning of Ludhaina.

Dr Harpreet Singh

Solve issues of different sectors

Although Ludhiana is a smart city, there are many areas, which still need attention. Cabinet minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu should focus on the neglected areas and the first is education sector. Teachers are always on strike. Teachers are nation builder and they should be listened to properly. Second area, which needs attention, is the agriculture sector. Farmers are on protest. He should visit houses of those farmers, who lost their lives during struggle against the three farm acts and offer all possible help. Third area is industry, which is at mercy after the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic. Rehabilitation packages must be introduced to boost industry. The minister should also make efforts to promote tourism in the city so that sufficient revenue can be generated to meet expenses of the smart city. Also minister’s focus must be on cleanliness and reducing pollution in the city. Free Wi-Fi facility must be provided to the needy especially students, who attend online classes.

Ritu Priya

Residents facing many problems

It’s good for the city that the two time Ludhiana (West) MLA, Bharat Bhushan Ashu, has managed to retain his Cabinet berth in new Punjab Chief Minister’s government. There are many problems faced by residents of Ludhiana. The priority of the minister must be to solve the traffic problem, which is aggravating with each passing day and reduce the rising pollution level, in the industrial town. It’s not surprising that if one has to go from one corner of the city to other, it might take him/her more than two hours or so due to traffic snarls. Normally, this distance can be covered in about half an hour. Ludhiana is an industrial hub, but this tag in itself has become a major problem for its residents. Air pollution has spread respiratory problems. Therefore, the minister has to address these two core issues, which if solved, will surely help him retain seat in the upcoming Assembly elections.

Bir Devinder Singh Bedi

Install CCTVs in streets

There are many areas, which need Cabinet Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu’s immediate attention. To improve security in the city CCTV cameras must be installed in all streets. Also, watchmen should be deployed in all parts of the city during night. Watchmen can be recruited by the Municipal Corporation. These steps will reduce crime in the city. Another important issue, which needs minister’s attention, is the rising stray dog-bite cases in the city. Arrangements must be made to catch and sterilise strays and keep them in specially built canine houses in different parts of the city. Also, the minister needs to focus on medical treatment and entertainment of senior citizens.

Gautam Dev

Early release of farmers’ payments

The Cabinet Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu should assure farmers for the early release of payment from the FCI for selling their produce. Proper arrangements should be made for procurement of crops in grain markets. Solving waterlogging problem and repair of broken roads should be topmost priority of the minister. He should warn MC officials to immediately carry out road repairs or face consequences. Many projects for the smart city need minister’s attention. No laxity in such works should be tolerated and smart city ranking of Ludhiana should be improved. Five fire stations in the city are not enough. More fire stations should be set up in the industrial town. Firemen should be provided latest firefighting equipment. The leisure valley is in dire need of repairs. The work on Sidhwan Canal waterfront project should be completed at the earlier. A senior citizens home coming up near leisure valley should be provided with state of the art facilities for elderly. The minister should focus on all these issues keeping in view the upcoming Assembly poll next year.

RS Sembhi

Every locality must have park

Cabinet Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu has been allotted the Food and Civil Supplies Ministry. Residents of Ludhiana have some expectations from him. He must address their problems. The minister must look into the problem of broken roads. He must ensure that a place is reserved for park in each locality where children can play and others can go out for walk. Some areas like Haibowal are deprived of such facilities. He must make provision of street-level clinics. The minister must improve conditions of Civil Hospitals and educational institutions. He must address problems of the industry. Cleaning of Buddha Nullah is also the need of the hour. He must compel the Education Department to fulfil long-pending demand of teachers. He can also ask the Electricity Department to lay underground power supply lines. Besides, every household in the city should have sewerage and portable water facilities.

Dr Mohd Saleem Farooqui

A lot is expected from minister

Ludhiana was to be developed as smart city. Even after six years the city doesn’t have even a little bit semblance with what was desired and dreamt of. City residents expect a lot from Cabinet Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu. Roads should be on par with the best in the country. Frequent traffic jams on certain roads need urgent redressal. Stray dogs are wreaking havoc in the city. The sanitary conditions in the city are deplorable. Garbage dumps are visible in every nook and corner of the city. All these issues need minister’s attention.

Dr Sunil Chopra

Timely completion of projects

Residents of Ludhiana have many expectations from Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Minister of Food and Civil Supplies. He should pay attention on the beautification of the city. The minister must ensure completion of various projects, which are under construction. There has to be a check on illegal colonies mushrooming up in the vicinity of Ludhiana. Carpeting of roads is also must. Industrial units in streets and densely populated areas should be shifted to city outskirts. Encroachments in front of shops should be removed. Some place in different localities should be earmarked for hawkers and fruit and vegetable sellers. The minister must plan to develop parks in different localities. Under passes and over bridges should be constructed to streamline the flow of traffic in the city. Fences should be erected on road sides to restrict the entry of stray animals. Parking places should be earmarked in all markets to ease of movement of the public.

Farzana Khan

Allot space to roadside vendors

To resolve the problem of traffic jams, the police removed roadside vendors and ‘rehriwalas’ and registered cases against erring shopkeepers last year. Frequent traffic snarls can’t be prevented as such unless an alternative place is allotted on a reasonable lease basis to such persons, who can’t afford to buy or rent shops to earn their livelihood. Cabinet Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu should help vendors in getting space where they can carry on their business legally. Similarly, the concept of ‘Apni Mandi’ can be used for other trades and vocations as well.

Sagar Gambhir

Proper disposal of rainwater

The priority areas, which need Cabinet Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu’s attention, are proper disposal of rainwater and solving frequent traffic jam issue in city. Broken roads inconvenience commuters. The minister should instruct the Municipal Corporation to carry out road repairs regularly.

Adish Sood

Special vision for development of city

Cabinet Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu should have a special vision for the development of Ludhiana. Timely completion of rainwater drainage system, removal of encroachments in the entire city, especially from main markets, proper garbage disposal, timely completion of projects related to smart city, construction of the elevated stretch from the Ferozepur road and starting electric buses and auto-rickshaws to reduce air and sound pollution should be on the minister’s priority list. Also the minister should pay more attention to cleaning of Buddha Nullah, which pollutes city. The minister can get a proposal for the construction of multi-storey car parking in various parts of the city passed in the MC House.

Dr Sukhdev Sharma

Expedite development works in city

Bharat Bhushan Ashu is known for his straightforward attitude. With the Assembly elections coming up in 2022, Punjab Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs minister should expedite development projects. Efforts should be made to make city more clean and green. The MC should undertake massive plantation on vacant plots in the city.

Anu Joshi

QUESTION

With the next Assembly elections approaching near, the ruling and the opposition parties have started luring the electorate with freebies. Should the sops or good governance be the priority for seeking votes?

Suggestions in not more than 70 words can be sent to [email protected]

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